Kennel-Free Dog Boarding in Burnaby

Pet boarding in Burnaby, without the kennel

Most boarding means a crate or a run for the hours nobody is watching. Ours doesn’t. Boarding dogs stay in the same kennel-free space they spend their days in, and because we offer boarding based on staff availability, your dog is never left alone.

That is the trade-off we have chosen deliberately: fewer boarding spots, but no dog spending the night behind a door.

Why we only board daycare dogs

For safety reasons, boarding is offered only to dogs who are already attending daycare.

An overnight stay in a kennel-free facility asks a lot of a dog. They need to be genuinely comfortable in the space, with our team, and with the other dogs, not merely tolerant of them for a few hours. Daycare is how we establish that, and how we learn your dog well enough to notice when something is off.

The practical consequence: if you have a trip coming up, get your dog assessed and settled into daycare well before you need the boarding. Booking is subject to availability, and holiday periods fill early.

Boarding rates

1–3 nights	$68 / night + GST
4–10 nights	$63 / night + GST
11+ nights	$58 / night + GST

Please contact us at 604-299-2480 or [email protected] to inquire.

An overnight stay, hour by hour

Your dog isn’t parked until you return. Boarding dogs spend the day exactly the way daycare dogs do, then stay on with us when everyone else goes home.

• Morning: an outdoor break, then settling in as the daycare dogs arrive.
• 9:30 AM: morning enrichment: puzzles, bubble chasing and flirt poles, the kind of work that tires a dog out properly.
• 11:00 AM: lunch.
• 12:00–2:00 PM: nap time. The lights come down, calm music goes on, and the room sleeps.
• 2:00 PM: afternoon enrichment.
• Late afternoon: outdoor breaks and quieter play as daycare pick-ups happen.
• Evening and overnight: dinner, a last break outside, then bed in the same kennel-free space, never alone.

That routine is most of the reason boarding dogs settle here rather than pacing. The day has a shape, and it is one they already know.

Who kennel-free boarding suits

• Dogs who hate crates or get distressed when they are shut in.
• Anxious dogs who do better somewhere familiar, with people they already know from daycare.
• Social dogs who would rather spend your trip with friends than in a run on their own.

It is not the right fit for every dog, and that is exactly what daycare tells us before a first overnight.

Planning ahead for holidays and long weekends

Because we keep boarding numbers low, popular dates go early. If your dog is new to Lucky’s, work backwards from your trip:

1. Book the free assessment as soon as you know you will be travelling. Here is what happens at the assessment.
2. Come to daycare for a few days so your dog knows the space, the routine and the team.
3. Request your boarding dates by phone or email once your dog is settled.

Travelling over Christmas? Start now. October is not too early. Our holiday boarding guide has the timeline, costs and a drop-off checklist.

What to bring

• Your dog’s usual food, ideally portioned, with written feeding instructions.
• Any medications, clearly labelled, with the dose and timing written down.
• A phone number that works while you are away, and your vet’s details.
• Anything we should know: new fears, a change in appetite, a sore leg.

Vaccinations (bordetella, parvo/distemper and rabies, or a titer test) need to be current for the whole stay. More on vaccination requirements.

Booking

Boarding is arranged directly, not through the portal. Call 604-299-2480 or email [email protected] to check availability for your dates.